The price of fresh pepper in Africa’s most populous nation has quadrupled in one month as a rare pest outbreak decimates output, creating an acute scarcity that is driving prices north.
A 25kg bag of pepper, popularly known as ‘Rodo’, now sells for an average of N120,000 in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub—four times its price of N30,000 in February 2025, according to BusinessDay’s market survey.
In the northern state of Kano, the biggest grower, a 25kg bag of pepper has soared 567 percent in just a year to N100,000 from N15,000 in the same period last year.
The situation has left traders scrambling for fresh supplies while households struggle to maintain traditional recipes that heavily rely on pepper. The scarcity has upended the supply chain, forcing retailers to ration stocks or seek alternatives.
“There is a severe shortage of pepper, and that’s what is driving prices through the roof,” said Yemisi Adegoroye, a trader at Lagos’ Mile 12 Market. “I traveled all the way to Kano to secure pepper for my customers, but I couldn’t even find 10 bags to buy.”
Read also: Jos tomato prices tumble amidst abundant harvest
With supply dwindling, some traders are now exploring imports from neighboring countries, though the depreciation of the Naira against the CFA franc further complicates pricing.
Pest on the rampage
Farmers interviewed by BusinessDay point to an unprecedented pest infestation as the primary driver of the crisis. The outbreak, which first appeared in February, has ravaged pepper farms across key producing states, decimating output.
“Pest has completely destroyed most pepper farms, and this is the major driver of the scarcity and surging prices we see in markets,” Abdullahi Ali, chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria -Kano chapter, said in response to questions.
“We started noticing the pest infestation in February this year,” Ali said.
Even greenhouse farms, typically more resilient to environmental disruptions, have not been spared.
“Even my greenhouse farm has been severely affected,” said Kamal Mustapha, a pepper grower and vice president of the agriculture group at the Kano Chamber of Commerce.
“This is the first time we’re witnessing an outbreak of this magnitude, and the pest remains unidentified,” Mustapha said.
Read also: Smuggling, high cost of energy halt Dangote tomato paste production
Farmers have sought assistance from the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and the National Horticultural Research Institute, but responses have been sluggish.
A scientist at the Ministry of Agriculture who was not authorised to speak on the issue said the ministry is not aware of the outbreak as pepper is not listed among the focus crops the body pays attention to.
The National Horticultural Research Institute – mandated for vegetables did not respond to several calls made by BusinessDay.
There is no official data on the country’s pepper production from the agricultural ministry or the United Nations food body, however, experts estimate production at 770,683 tons per annum.
Kano state accounts for the bulk of the country’s total production, followed by Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Sokoto and Bauchi.
